Tim Hastings has 8 years of geotechnical engineering experience both in the United States and abroad. He is experienced in seismic hazard assessments of projects including site-specific seismic site response, liquefaction analyses, and seismic slope displacement. In addition, his experience includes soil and rock sampling and description; field observations for subsurface investigations; analysis and design of earth slopes and retaining systems; kinematic and rockfall analysis of rock slopes; ground improvement; project management; and report preparation to present the results of subsurface explorations and geotechnical design recommendations. Tim has worked on a broad range of projects including buildings with both shallow and deep foundation systems, roadways, highways, wastewater treatment plants, and railroads. Tim is trained in rock slope access using ropes.
Educational Background
M.S. Civil Engineering (Geo-Engineering), University of California, Berkeley, 2014
B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, California State University, Fullerton. 2013
B.S. Business Administration, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 2006
Registered Professional Engineer
Professional Engineer – Maryland, California
Selected Projects
Paw Paw Tunnel Rockfall Geohazard Evaluation– Oldtown, MD: Project Geotechnical Engineer for the geotechnical evaluation of the rockfall at the Paw Paw Tunnel in Oldtown, Maryland. The purpose of the work was to identify and mitigate rockfall hazards along approximately 1,000 linear feet of rockface adjacent to the C&O Canal towpath and historic canal prism at mile post 155. Responsibilities included collecting field data on geologic structural measurements using rope access on a 75-ft tall rock face, analyzing and modeling probable failure mechanisms; preparing remediation recommendations; and developing schematic design documents for pattern bolting, spot bolting, shear blocks, and draped mesh. (2019-2020)
I-26 Widening – Phase 1 – Dorchester and Berkeley Counties, SC: As a Project Geotechnical Engineer, performed non-linear and linear equivalent, 1D site response analyses for three bridges spanning over I-26 in South Carolina. Responsibilities included the review of available boring logs, laboratory test results, shear wave velocity measurements for the assignment of dynamic soil properties; and the performance of the seismic analysis per SCDOT guidelines. Utilizing ground motion records provided by SCDOT, dynamic site response analyses utilizing DEEPSOIL were performed. (2019)
I-66 Transform, Widening Outside the Beltway – Fairfax, VA: Geostructural Engineer responsible for the design of a double tier post-and-panel wall for the Interstate-66 Transform project in Fairfax, Virginia. Additional lanes and a Shared Use Path (SUP) were proposed as part of the highway widening. The Right of Way was approximately 5 ft behind the proposed alignment of the required 30-ft high wall, which made the installation of ground anchors or soil nails infeasible. Thus, a double tier wall, with each tier approximately 15-ft tall, was proposed and designed. In addition, the upper wall supported a 30 ft tall sound wall. The design was performed using finite element analysis with Plaxis 2D to capture the complex soil-structure interaction and the interaction between the lower and upper wall tiers. (2017-2018)
I-66 Transform, Widening Outside the Beltway – Fairfax, VA: Project Geotechnical Engineer for the preliminary phase of widening of Interstate-66 between the DC Beltway and Jermantown Road bridge to create managed toll lanes. Project responsibilities included planning and managing the subsurface field investigation program including over 800 borings in busy roadways and interstate highways. Acted as field coordinator for the subsurface investigation; coordinated with drilling subcontractors, traffic control subcontractors, VDOT, Virginia State Police, and other entities on a daily basis. Managed drilling crews and oversaw field quality control of soil classification and safety procedures. (2017)
West Point Academy, CEAC Rock Slope Analysis and Design Recommendations – West Point, NY: Project Geotechnical Engineer for the proposed 80-ft high rock cut within Cambrian age banded gneiss to accommodate development of a new building complex and associated parking. The slope design concept by developers included a 0.25H:1V cut with pavement planned up to the base of the rock slope. Rock structure mapping, facilitated by down-hole televiewer logging, suggested both planar and toppling/wedge sliding failure modes. Design recommendations were developed to accommodate the planned rock cut inclination with rock bolts and sub-horizontal rock drains to control planar and wedge sliding. A rock catchment ditch and options for slope mesh and/or a catchment barrier were recommended to control a significant rockfall potential. (2019)
Ohio DOT, Rock Slope Stabilization Study and Preliminary Design – Lawrence County, OH: Project Engineer for rock mass characterization, engineering analysis, and preliminary design for the stabilization of a 270-ft tall, 2,500-ft long natural rock slope adjacent to State Route 7, Ohio River Byway, at mile mark 4.10, in Lawrence County, Ohio. The slope is the site had a history of previous rockfalls and small landslides/slumps in the flat-lying, interbedded sandstones and shales of Pennsylvanian age. Primary failure modes were identified and prioritized using kinematic, limit equilibrium methods, and rockfall analysis to develop concept-level rockfall mitigation options and cost estimates. (2020)
North Hill Development – Fairfax County, VA: A proposed residential development with significant topographic relief requiring deep excavations, which required the design of two long retaining walls varying from 12 to 38 ft in height. The lower grade would be developed into multi-family buildings, townhomes, roadways, and parking areas. The upper grade would be developed into a future public park. The site is underlain by Cretaceous-age deposits of clays and silts that while generally strong and over-consolidated have undergone prior displacement/movement, resulting in slickensides. These deposits are known to be problematic for cut slopes due to their low fully-softened and residual shear strengths. As the Geostructural Engineer, Tim designed a soil nail wall system to provide the structural support for the cut wall face, using soil mix buttresses in front of the wall for ground improvement to achieve the required factor of safety for global stability. (2019)
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Melford, Bowie, Maryland: Project Geotechnical Engineer responsible for the subsurface investigation and preparation of design report for a 60-bed rehabilitation hospital to be housed in a one-story building with a footprint of 61,800 sf, and the accompanying access roads and parking lots. Site investigation and foundation design/construction challenges included existing undocumented fill extending to between 5 and 12 feet below existing grades. Recommendations for ground improvement using Dense Aggregate Piers were provided in addition to undocumented fill excavation and replacement prior to the construction of shallow foundations, given the significant amounts of undocumented fill. (2018)
Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant, Warsaw, NY: Project Geotechnical Engineer for geotechnical investigation for proposed improvements at the existing wastewater treatment plant in the Town of Warsaw, NY. Proposed construction included two new aerobic digesters, a dewatering/blower building, and a UV disinfection facility. Settlements of the proposed structures, due to the presence of soft sediments extending to 150- to 200-ft depths, were evaluated. Mat foundations were recommended to support the digesters. Preloading and delay in making final piping connections was recommended to reduce the potential for differential settlement between the existing and proposed facilities. (2019)
Kwik Trip Temporary Support of Excavation, Cedar Rapids, IA: Geostructural Engineer for the design of a temporary support of excavation. To allow for the installation of underground storage tanks, a 13.5-ft deep excavation, with plan dimensions of 52 ft x 54 ft was required. A sheet pile wall with walers and struts was designed to support the excavation.